Page 168 of The Chase
I texted him,Will call soon. All okay.
Tobias:Call me. Now.
“This is what we managed to get from Christie’s.” Brandon pointed to his Apple’s flat screen. “Watch this. This is what has the police baffled.”
I placed my phone on the desk and concentrated on the film. I recognized the room at Christie’s, the same one I’d visited and recognized the three paintings on display in the private showroom. MySt. Joanwas flanked by the Renoir to the left and to the right, Jan Gossaert’sPortrait of a Merchant.
The wall camera swept left and then right painfully slowly and taking in the full view of the showroom. The time clock stamped on the lower right screen was 03.01.
A chubby security guard strolled in, looked around and strolled out again. “Watch this—” Brandon froze the frame.
St. Joanvanished.
“But the guard’s right there!” I said. “He’s in the room.”
“And no one else is in there,” said Brandon. “You just saw what we saw. The room is empty. Officer Fields strolls in. He strolls out. Touches nothing. Then, bam! Painting behind him is gone.”
An uneasiness rose in my chest.
“This is Icon’s MO.” Abby threw me a wary glance.
Elena appeared at the door. “Zara, you have a call.”
I forced a friendly smile her way. “Tell Tobias I’ll call him in a minute.”
She grinned. “How did you know it was him?”
“Wild guess,” I said.
“You might want to answer that.” Abby stared at my cell phone.
I relented and picked it up and strolled over to the corner near the window. If I crooked my neck I’d see the Wharf.
“Are you alone?” Tobias said.
“No.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“What did Francis want?”
“Help with securing his paintings. You know, with all these recent thefts it’s got him rattled. He needs a security review of the palace.”
“Did he recognize you?”
“This is a bad time.”
“Please answer the question.” His voice sounded eerily calm.
I turned to see Abby staring at me. Her frown was proof she disapproved of me sharing confidential information of a client’s business.
“I’m looking at some footage,” I said. “Can I call you back?”
“What footage?”
“Christie’s. The nightSt. Joanwent missing.” I moved closer to the screen. “We may have something.”
